2.12.14

The Book With No Pictures by B.J Novak | Review

When it comes to story time with the boys I am quite fussy. I think it is really important for parents to enjoy the books they read, as much as their children enjoy to hear it.
You have to have that passion and commitment to be able to read a story properly, in my opinion, and to really engage not only with the book but with your child too.

B.J. Novak's The Book With No Pictures is one of those books that is a firm favourite in our house.
After seeing the Youtube video I was so impressed with how a book, so simple, could create such a response from children.
I feel like this book really strips back everything and shows what story time is all about.
Connecting, having fun, laughing together, discovering words and phrases together, and closing that final page feeling like you have experienced something amazing.

B.J Novak is an actor, stand-up comedian, writer, director, and executive producer who has stared in The Office [American version] and in Saving Mr Banks (anyone who has worked alongside Tom Hanks gets major cool points from me, especially when they write a book such as this one).

My boys can be pretty distracted when it comes to stories, particularly those with beautiful illustrations, so this book was really going to be something we could use to test their concentration.
And as expected, they loved it. They really love the simpleness of it. The fact that it connects with them both despite their different ages, and even us in our 20's and 30's found it funny.

So what is the book about? I think that is one of the most wonderful things about this book. It is about fun. Just having fun, laughing and of course reading aloud.
I really like how the book is almost controlling the reader and it is a great example of how powerful books can be.

You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except
. . . here’s how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say . . .

BLORK. Or BLUURF.

Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for
breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY
BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY.

The Book with No Pictures is available to buy from December the 4th. Due to the simplicity of the book I would recommend the Kindle version just as much as the hardcover. Usually when it comes to children's books I stay away from Kindle versions but this one works really well.

This book is ideal for children of all ages, and for parents and grandparents of all ages too.
I could have added photos of the book, and samples of the pages....but this Youtube video shows you a lot more than I could. I dare you not to smile and giggle.